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𝐺𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑦 𝐾𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑙

@ginnykestel

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𝑭𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, & 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕
𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈 ♱
𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒏𝒂 @nysid
𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒆𝒓 & 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓 @gracekellyarchives

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This year I discovered Edith Bouvier Beale (“Little Edie”), the “staunch character” of Grey Gardens. That’s right—the first cousin of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Edie was not only headstrong, but a woman of insight and depth. She was real. She was destined for greatness. One-of-a-kind. 🤍

Audio from the documentary film GREY GARDENS (1975), courtesy of Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

🏷️: #greygardens #edithbeale #tcm #classicmovies #classics taken in Grey Gardens (estate) by @ginnykestel

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12 days ago

Nothing is quite like the reflecting pool at Bellosguardo… ✨

🏷️: #bellosguardo #bellosguardofoundation @bellosguardo.foundation #santabarbara #petitestudionyc #psirl @petitestudionyc taken in Bellosguardo Foundation by @ginnykestel

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7 months ago

I often reflect on my visits to the Clark estate of Bellosguardo, the empty mansion of Santa Barbara. The mysterious life of heiress Huguette Clark is truly fascinating to me. During the tours, I had the chance to walk through her art studio, which stores some of her fine art. Under the tutelage of Tadé Styka, Huguette became quite an accomplished artist. She painted primarily in oil, which was uncommon at the time when women typically worked in pastels. Here, I have compiled the pieces I particularly like. These are not among those kept in her art studio at Bellosguardo. They were consigned in 2014 at Christie’s New York as part of the auction, An American Dynasty: The Clark Family Treasures. I think the first painting will always be my favorite: a nighttime view from her Fifth Avenue apartment, another empty mansion...

Paintings, as shown:
1. "Scene from My Window- Night" by Huguette Clark
2. "Scene from My Window- After the Snow Storm" by Huguette Clark
3. "Self-Portrait Holding Palette" by Huguette Clark
4. "Still life with Japanese parasol, butterfly and a pair of Geta" by Huguette Clark
5. "Still life of a vase of stocks in a blue vase on a table with two books and a letter opener" by Huguette Clark
6. "Chateau with water lilies" by Huguette Clark
7. "Still life with Rock Crystal Guanyun on wooden stand, porcelain elephant, wooden jewel box, and jadite jewels" by Huguette Clark

Images courtesy of Christie’s @christiesinc

🏷️: #bellosguardo #bellosguardofoundation #huguetteclark #emptymansions #arthistory taken in Bellosguardo Foundation by @ginnykestel

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7 months ago

Forever an Audrey Hepburn girl 🤍

{Footage from “Edith Head: Hollywood’s Costume Designer” exhibit}

🏷️: #audreyhepburn #oldhollywood #oldhollywoodglamour #oldhollywoodstars #classichollywood #okcmoa #edithhead taken in Oklahoma City Museum of Art by @ginnykestel

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2 years ago

Congratulations on Dallas’ 5th Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House @kbshowhouse. Twenty-five designers transformed a French-Renaissance mansion in the Turtle Creek neighborhood. This year, I had the opportunity to volunteer as a docent for this design event. À l’année prochaine!

Pictured:
1. CeCe Barfield Inc.’s “Her Retreat” @cecebarfieldinc
2. Sherry Hayslip Interiors’s “Bibliothèque Des Tounesols” (“Room of the Sunflowers”) @sherryhayslipinteriors
3. Jan Showers & Associates’s “The Cipagno Room” @janshowers
4. Lisa Henderson Interiors’s “English Garden” @lisamhenderson
5. Katie Davis Interiors LLC’s “La Chambre d’Enfants” @katiedavisdesign
6. Creative Tonic Design’s “The Citrus Garden” @creativetonic
7. Trish Sheats Interior Design’s “Le Salon du Champagne” @trishsheatsid

🏷️: #kipsbayshowhouse #kipsbay #kbdallas #kipsbaydallas #interiordesign #dallasdesign taken in Turtle Creek, Dallas by @ginnykestel

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2 years ago

“𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔.” ~ 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑲𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒔 𝑳𝒊𝒔𝒂 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒍 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑹 𝑾𝑰𝑵𝑫𝑶𝑾 (1954)

🏷: #vintagestyle #oldhollywood #oldsoul #gracekelly #rearwindow taken in Dallas, Texas by @ginnykestel

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2 years ago

Here we are at Oklahoma City Museum of Art (@okcmoa) for their summer exhibition, “Edith Head: Hollywood’s Costume Designer.” This exhibit featured 70 costumes from the height of Edith’s career. Her signature taste and style helped define the look of Hollywood’s Golden Age. I was most excited to see the black organza cocktail dress Grace Kelly wore in Alfred Hitchcock’s REAR WINDOW (1954). It was one of several outfits Edith designed for the film. The exhibit also included 20 original fashion sketches, 3 of which were designs for TO CATCH A THIEF (1955). Afterward, I enjoyed an encore screening of REAR WINDOW, which was fabulous to watch on the big screen. Thank you, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, for showcasing the work of costume designer extraordinaire: Edith Head.

Featured costume: Grace Kelly “Lisa Carol Fremont’s” black organza cocktail dress with transparent short sleeves and a full accordion-pleated skirt, accessorized with a thin leather belt and three strands of pearls.

Featured fashion sketches, from TO CATCH A THIEF (1955):
1. Grace Kelly “Frances Stevens’s” soft blue chiffon dress
2. Grace Kelly “Frances Stevens’s” beachwear ensemble
3. Grace Kelly “Frances Stevens’s” pink blouse, skirt, and scarf
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Background music: “Juke Box #6” — From REAR WINDOW (1954) by Franz Waxman and Paramount Studio Orchestra taken in Oklahoma City Museum of Art by @ginnykestel

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2 years ago

📍 Bellosguardo, Santa Barbara, California
Huguette Clark’s secret to happiness: “Pour vivre heureux, vivone cache. To live happily, live hidden.” Situated on the bluff above East Beach, the estate of Bellosguardo is truly hidden by the trees. For a third time, this mysteriously magical place drew me back...
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Song credit: “L’abandon” by Alexandre Desplat & London Symphony Orchestra from the film COCO BEFORE CHANEL (2009)

🏷️: #bellosguardofoundation #bellosguardo #emptymansions #santabarbara #theamericanriviera @bellosguardo.foundation taken in Bellosguardo Foundation by @ginnykestel

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2 years ago

Part IV: The Breakers 🌊 ~ Newport, Rhode Island

The Breakers is truly the grandest of all the mansions in Newport. Upon entering The Great Hall, I was pleasantly surprised by the painted ceiling reminiscent of Rosecliff’s ballroom. Walking through the morning room, music room, and library, I was awestruck by the level of craftsmanship. In Gertrude and Gladys Vanderbilt’s bedrooms, I particularly admired the feminine textiles and French-style pieces. The space I love the most is the upper loggia, complete with wicker furniture and a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. The staff member who suggested I start at The Elms suggested I finish at The Breakers for the “grand finale.” It was the perfect climax to my visit.
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I want to thank the Preservation Society of Newport County (@newport.mansions) for all they do to conserve and preserve Newport’s architectural heritage and the Bellevue Avenue Historic District mansions. As someone passionate about historic preservation, I sincerely appreciate all the effort and devotion to maintaining these testaments of the past.

🏷️: #thebreakers #newportmansions #newportri #thegildedage
#historicpreservation #historichomes #interiordesign #nysid taken in The Breakers Mansion by @ginnykestel

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2 years ago

📍 Grace Kelly Beach & Harbor House, Castle Hill Inn, Newport, RI

While filming her last motion picture, HIGH SOCIETY (1956), Grace stayed at Castle Hill Inn, a luxury hotel on the secluded side of Newport’s coastline. In her downtime, she would sneak away to its private beach, away from the publicity. Because the climb was a challenge, the hotel staff built a staircase so she could easily access her haven. The craggy rock beach became known as “Grace Kelly Beach.” Harbor House accommodated Grace for the duration of her stay. Overlooking Narragansett Bay, it is just steps away from her secret hideaway.

What an absolute honor it was to walk in Grace’s footsteps. I am eternally grateful to Mrs. Stephanie Nelson for allowing me to capture the beauty and history at Castle Hill Inn (@castlehillinn). As a devoted fan, it was a dream come true to experience this piece of old Hollywood history finally.

🏷️: #gracekelly #newportrhodeisland #newportri #castlehillinn #newengland #oldhollywood #classichollywood #highsociety taken in Castle Hill Inn by @ginnykestel

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2 years ago

Part III: Marble House 🏛️ ~ Newport, Rhode Island

Marble House is yet another summer “cottage” along Bellevue Avenue. This Beaux-Arts-style house was William Vanderbilt’s birthday gift to his wife Alva (doesn’t everyone get a mansion for their birthday?). Inspired by the design of Petit Trianon at Versailles, it includes 500,000 cubic feet of marble in total. From the dining room with its rose-colored marble to the elaborate stair hall to Alva’s ornately decorated bedroom, Marble House is one of America’s most opulent houses. While Rosecliff’s ballroom is my favorite interior, Marble House is my favorite mansion from an architectural standpoint. The hydrangeas in front were only beginning to blossom—I only wish I could have seen them in full bloom! @newport.mansions
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Still more to come… ✨

🏷️: #marblehouse #newportmansions #newportri #thegildedage
#historicpreservation #historichomes #interiordesign #nysid taken in Marble House by @ginnykestel

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2 years ago

Just down from the mansions on Bellevue Avenue, the Newport Casino was a center of social life for elite residents, including the Vanderbilts. During the summers, guests participated in tennis, squash, and other activities such as card-playing, billiards, watching movies, and ballroom dancing. The complex is a great example of Shingle Style architecture, an accomplishment of the McKim, Mead, and White design firm. As a tribute to tennis, it now includes the International Tennis Hall of Fame (@tennishallofame), which honors and celebrates the history of this classic sport. I thoroughly enjoyed the museum and seeing the beautiful grounds.
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Anyone for tennis? 🎾

🏷️: #internationaltennishalloffame #newportcasino #newportri #newengland #newenglandtennis #tennisclub #tennis #vintagetennis taken in International Tennis Hall of Fame by @ginnykestel

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2 years ago